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Hemp Production In US More Than Doubles In 2017, CBD Leads Growth

By Rick Schettino

Nov 07, 2017

Hemp production more than doubled in 2017. And the stellar growth is expected to continue through the decade and beyond, lead by very strong CBD sales.

Hemp cultivation is allowed under House Bill 3530: The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2017, under the condition that it is being grown as part of a university-sponsored pilot program. Only hemp strains with less than 0.3 percent THC are allowed.

Thirty-two universities in nineteen states are participating in hemp cultivation projects, including Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, and Tennessee.

According to data compiled by the advocacy organization, Vote Hemp, production in the US increased dramatically from fewer than 10,000 acres of hemp in 2016 to more than 23,000 in 2017.

“The majority of states have implemented hemp farming laws, in clear support of this crop and its role in diversifying and making more sustainable our agricultural economy,” Vote Hemp President Eric Steenstra said in a prepared statement. “It’s imperative that we pass the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in Congress, so that we can grant farmers full federally legal rights to commercially cultivate hemp to supply the growing global market for hemp products.”

Cannabidiol (CBD) represents the fastest growing subset of the US hemp market. According to a new report by Brightfield Group, hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) is projected to be a billion-dollar market in just three years. The data company estimates that hemp CBD sales have already hit $170 million in 2016 and a 55% compound annual growth rate over the next five years will cause the market to crack the billion-dollar mark. Hemp sales reached $688 million last year, according to the Hemp Business Journal, which estimates that the hemp market has been growing at a 22% compound annual growth rate over the past five years.

Currently, the vast majority of hemp products sold in the US—such as hemp foods, healthcare products, textiles, and building materials—are imported from other countries where hemp production is fully legalized. As domestic restrictions continue to ease, more and more of that money is expected to remain in the US, creating a massive opportunity for US companies investing in hemp.